Loved ones are mourning Michael Kempf, the Amtrak engineer killed in a train crash in Cayce, S.C.Friends say Kempf was a family man who served his country in the Army. “People person, everybody liked him,” said John Bennett. Bennett had been friends with Kempf for 15 years. The two met working together at CSX as engineers. “I met him at lunch and when I was introduced to him, I thought right off the bat he was really friendly, smiling, telling little jokes,” Bennett said. Kempf left CSX to work for Amtrak, but the two remained close friends and communicated with each other every few weeks up until the morning Kempf was killed in the crash. “The railroad's a very unforgiving place,” Bennett said. The investigation into the cause of the crash continues. The National Transportation Safety Board says the railroad signal system was down for upgrade maintenance. The rail switch was left in a position that led the train off the main track. NTSB says in the seconds before the crash, the engineer used the emergency brakes to try and slow down. “Frightening because I know what an engineer would have to go through. I'm sure he knew right before what happened what was in store and it's very sad,” Bennett said. Bennett said Kempf was concerned about Amtrak layoffs and feared he could lose his job. Bennett says he thinks Amtrak should hire more employees so they could spend more quality time at home. Kempf’s family has said he was also concerned about railway safety and sought counseling after a previous crash. Amtrak has refused to speak about his work history.

Friends say Kempf was a family man who served his country in the Army.

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“People person, everybody liked him,” said John Bennett.

Bennett had been friends with Kempf for 15 years. The two met working together at CSX as engineers.

“I met him at lunch and when I was introduced to him, I thought right off the bat he was really friendly, smiling, telling little jokes,” Bennett said.

Kempf left CSX to work for Amtrak, but the two remained close friends and communicated with each other every few weeks up until the morning Kempf was killed in the crash.

“The railroad's a very unforgiving place,” Bennett said.

The investigation into the cause of the crash continues. The National Transportation Safety Board says the railroad signal system was down for upgrade maintenance. The rail switch was left in a position that led the train off the main track.

NTSB says in the seconds before the crash, the engineer used the emergency brakes to try and slow down.

“Frightening because I know what an engineer would have to go through. I'm sure he knew right before what happened what was in store and it's very sad,” Bennett said.

Bennett said Kempf was concerned about Amtrak layoffs and feared he could lose his job.

Bennett says he thinks Amtrak should hire more employees so they could spend more quality time at home.

Kempf’s family has said he was also concerned about railway safety and sought counseling after a previous crash.